5 the state of science in south africa
B I O L O G I C A L S C I E N C E S
Ornithology in South Africa continues to The entomological fauna of southern Africa
provide such far-reaching insights. For ex- was extensively collected in the 18
th
and
ample, a study emanating from the PFIAO 19
th
centuries and this material was depos-
and published in 2008, proved experimen- ited in the natural history museums of Eu-
tally for the first time the existence of teach- rope and the UK. The scientific study of in-
ing (and Pavlovian) behaviour in a wild bird sects based in South Africa was established
species. This is likely to have wide-reaching in the late 19
th
century, with the founding
ramifications for many aspects of scientific of natural history museums and with the
research, including cognition and behav- recognition that agricultural development
ioural ecology. was dependent on a careful study of the
insect pests of agricultural crops. Appoint-
Several factors have contributed to the
ment of applied entomologists in colonial
recent rise of ornithology in South Africa,
government service served as the basis for
including advancing technologies (such
the development of applied entomology.
as tracking and molecular techniques)
During the early part of the 20
th
century,
that have added immense value to behav-
systematic entomology was the preserve of
ioural and demographic data, increasing
the natural history museums, while the De-
cross-disciplinary fertilisation in terms of
partment of Agriculture was responsible for
ideas and techniques, and the integration
applied entomological research. Two very
of citizen scientists and the post-apartheid
significant areas of research were in the
expansion of networks of international col-
control of swarms of locusts that could do
laborators. Ornithology has come a long
extensive damage to agricultural produc-
way since the intellectual isolation of the
tion and control of the mosquito vectors of
1980s and all indications are that it is set for
the malaria parasite.
a healthy future.
After World War II, a significant number of
research institutes were founded and estab-
5.3.6 Entomology
lished programmes dealing with particular
crops and their associated insect pests; for
H
uman recordings of insects in south- example, mosquito-control programmes in
ern Africa were first discovered an attempt to eradicate malaria; tick-con-
in San rock paintings that depict trol programmes in an attempt to control
swarms of honeybees, honey hunting ac- livestock diseases. In addition, the National
tivities from colonies in rock crevices and Collection of Insects that is housed in the
drawings of honeycombs. The San were also Plant Protection Research Institute in Pre-
adept at using insects as a source of venom toria became a focus of work in systematic
for their arrowheads that made hunting entomology, particularly in relation to ag-
large animals a more successful enterprise. ricultural pests. This collection and those
Insects, particularly the large larvae of silk of the natural history museums contain an
moths are regarded as a culinary delicacy invaluable record of the arthropod biodi-
(mopane worms). versity of southern Africa which will be of
154
TWAS book_Chap1-6.indd 154 2009/10/06 12:03:56 PM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220 |
Page 221 |
Page 222 |
Page 223 |
Page 224 |
Page 225 |
Page 226 |
Page 227 |
Page 228 |
Page 229 |
Page 230 |
Page 231 |
Page 232 |
Page 233 |
Page 234 |
Page 235 |
Page 236 |
Page 237 |
Page 238 |
Page 239 |
Page 240 |
Page 241 |
Page 242 |
Page 243 |
Page 244 |
Page 245 |
Page 246 |
Page 247 |
Page 248 |
Page 249 |
Page 250 |
Page 251 |
Page 252 |
Page 253 |
Page 254 |
Page 255 |
Page 256 |
Page 257 |
Page 258 |
Page 259 |
Page 260 |
Page 261 |
Page 262 |
Page 263 |
Page 264 |
Page 265 |
Page 266 |
Page 267 |
Page 268 |
Page 269 |
Page 270 |
Page 271 |
Page 272 |
Page 273 |
Page 274 |
Page 275 |
Page 276 |
Page 277 |
Page 278 |
Page 279 |
Page 280 |
Page 281 |
Page 282 |
Page 283 |
Page 284 |
Page 285 |
Page 286 |
Page 287 |
Page 288 |
Page 289 |
Page 290